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Thunderstorm activity continued across the center of the nation on Saturday as a low pressure system moving eastward through central Canada created a strong cold front over the region. The cold front extended southward through the Plains and moved eastward into the Mississippi River Valley throughout the day. This brought scattered showers and thunderstorms to most of the Central U.S. from the Upper Midwest into the Southern Plains. Flow from the south ahead of this frontal boundary brought warm and moist air in from the Gulf of Mexico, which allowed for some of these storms to turn severe. Wind gusts over 60 mph were reported from Missouri through southern Minnesota, while large hail was in parts of Missouri. At the same time, a warm front extended eastward from this system and stretched over the Midwest and into the Ohio River Valley. Heavy rainfall and strong storms developed along this system across Illinois and Indiana, reaching into southern Michigan. There was a slight chance of severe thunderstorms with this system but severe storms have not yet developed.

Meanwhile in the West, the tail end of the cold front lingered over the Central Rockies, which triggered a few scattered showers and thunderstorms across Colorado and the Four Corners. Lightning and strong winds associated with this system maintained high fire danger over the region. Even though these areas saw some rain, it is not enough precipitation to mitigate fire spread.

Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Saturday have ranged from a morning low of 21 degrees at Stanley, Idaho to a midday high of 104 degrees at Pompano Beach, Fla.